Preview: Maple Leafs at Rangers

April 10, 2013|Reuters

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Preview: Maple Leafs at Rangers

The Toronto Maple Leafs overcame a rally by the New York Rangers at home on Monday to solidify their hold on fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The Original Six rivals meet again on Wednesday - this time in New York - for the conclusion of their home-and-home series. Toronto lost 5-2 on Jan. 26 in its most recent game at Madison Square Garden but is 11-6-2 on the road and 7-1-2 in its last 10 contests overall. Goaltender James Reimer has started nine of those games and will be looking for his 50th career victory if he is in net for the Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

The Rangers are clinging to a playoff spot following Monday's 4-3 setback, which was their first regulation loss in five games this month (3-1-1). New York plays four of its nine remaining games at home, where it is 12-6-2 and has won two in a row. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has a 2.03 goals-against average in 19 home starts for the Rangers, who have scored at least three goals in four of their last five contests after finishing March with consecutive shutout losses. New York's resurgent offense is running through Rick Nash and Derek Stepan, who have combined to score nine of the team's 18 goals this month.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS2, MSG

ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (22-13-4): Joffrey Lupul missed his second straight contest on Monday due to an upper-body injury. Lupul practiced briefly with the team before the game but is considered day-to-day. Without Lupul (14 points in seven games before the injury), Toronto loses a valuable piece to its scoring depth - putting pressure on the top line of Phil Kessel (four points in two games), James van Riemsdyk (four points in three contests) and Tyler Bozak (two points in as many games). Defenseman Jake Gardiner was a healthy scratch for the fourth time in five games on Monday, leaving an opening for Ryan O'Byrne, who scored his fifth career goal on Monday in his first game with Toronto.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (19-16-4): New York's trade-deadline acquisitions of Ryane Clowe, Derick Brassard and defenseman John Moore made a huge impact in their debut, combining for four goals and eight points in a 6-1 home victory over Pittsburgh. But Clowe and Moore have since been held to one assist each in three games, while Brassard has been held off the scoresheet entirely. Beyond the top line of Nash, Stepan and captain Ryan Callahan, the Rangers have struggled to find offense at even-strength - a problem that has persisted throughout the season. New York ranks second-to-last among playoff teams with 96 goals scored.

OVERTIME

1. New York is 4-8-1 against Northeast Division opponents.

2. The four goals Lundqvist allowed against Toronto on Monday tied a season-high, marking the third time in 34 starts he has allowed more than three in a game.

3. Toronto C Nazem Kadri, who leads the team with 40 points, registered his first point in four career games against the Rangers when he assisted on O'Byrne's goal.